Pipe releasing method



March 2, 1954 C. R. EDWARDS PIPE RELEASING METHOD Original Filed May 13, 1940 4 Sheeis-Sheet l ADMA 5 11 1) wmeo; DECEJJED 1 w. 3 5y fen 620s, ZStKau E/M March 2, 1954 c, EDWARDS 2,670,927

PIPE RELEASING METHOD Original Filed May 13, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 *405 7 01 401 9 E 404 1404 I. i -41! T 1 I 5 4w flap- EL. 8 r 411 \w V6 0 I Z i! 412 400 j 426 I. F 4 4Z6 i/ 40a 5% g l i 415 1 Q j Q Z .z 24 i; r I I w 1 t,

d 414 I 1 I 7 415 1 410 17 L 19 i 4/6 427 March 2, 1954 c. R. EDWARDS 2,670,927

PIPE RELEASING METHOD Original Filed May 15, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 i 454 b 454 g a a l 1 I I 45 I 45 I I I E t i A69 H 470 I l 468 3 I 45 I I 11% I i 11 22? I s z I mm 469 461 I 52 i I '45? 452 4eza 465 1 I r o E L :2 461 1 4152 465 i l "460 1 I 464 l r 4 E 459 E 458 l 458 i 1 I l i i II I E f' 2 455 2 xx k 639m; 55 6 0 Wfi/POJ, flfc'ffioifl i1"?- 9- 5y A7650 WEEDS} [XECz/TR/K .l i l I,

Patented Mar. 2, 1954 v 2,670,927 I PIPE RELEASING METHOD Charles R. Edwards, deceased, late of Houston, Tex., by Frances Robertha Edwards, executrix,

Houston, Tex.

Original application May 13, 1940, Serial No.

. This'invention relates to new and useful improvements in means for recovering elements from well bores.

' The former practice has been to attempt to remove the lodged or stuck portion of the drill pipe, which is commonly referred to as the fish, byi grappling the pipe and pulling the same with very powerfulmachinery, which often seriously damages the pipe by over-straining the upper portion of the pipe .until the pipe is broken near the surface. 'Such breaking of the pipe causes the elasticstretch in that portion of pipe below to snap the lower portion of pipe downwardly with great force and most generally corkscrews thispipe and bends it over in the cave-outs and cavities, thereby damaging the same. After this happens, cutters, shooting, left-hand pipe, and other fishing tools are tried in'an attempt to recover the pipe. The long sections of pipe areconnected together by threaded collars or threaded tool joints. Sometimes the top of the lodged portion of pipe has been rotated to the left to effect disconnection of one of the many threaded joints, but when this "is done, there is no way of determining which joint will be anscrewed. A joint at-the top of the well, or only afew hundredfeet.from'the'surfaceof the ground will be broken out, because ordinarily ,the lower joints are made tighter due to the" bit drag on saidjoints during the drilling operation. For this reason, merelyxrotating the pipe to unscrew the joints is'not successful since it leaves the major portion of thepipe in the bore.

There are so many different conditions which may'arise to make the removal of this lodged pipe, diflicultthat no one device, now 'in use, in'fapplicants opinion, may successfully take care of all of these conditions. Up to the present time,'there has been no method which will efficiently and positively removeor :fishout pipe, or other elements, from the well bore, regardless ofthe position'of the pipe and regardless of the particular conditions which caused the necessity forthe fffishing job or of the particular conditions encountered during the attempt to remove said pipe, 4 W j v 1 1 V It is he fo o e o c o h inv t n t prpvide an improved method and means for recovering, and removing, pipe, tubing, casing and h Obj ct w ich, may ha sfie m ed Dividedand this application June 20, 1951, Serial No. 232,498 v 4 Claims. (Cl. 255L8) awell bore which contemplates a plurality of combined devices. For example, I contemplate combining one or more safety joints with one or more circulation breakers so that at least a section of stuck pipe may be removed under almost any conditions. In particular, it is contemplated, where the safety joints are combined with circulation breakers, the circulation breakers will be placed below the safety joints.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view. showing a circulation breaker in its inoperative position, v

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the circulation breaker of Fig. 1 in its operative position,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken one the line 44 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig; 2,

Fig. 6 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing how a tool may be run down through the device,

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing how a tool may be pulled up through the device,

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view, showing the fluid-agitating means of the housing,

Fig. 9 is a vertical, sectional view of another form of circulationclevice,

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, showing said 7 circulation device in its open position,

Fig. 11 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line ll'll of Fig. 9,

Fig. 12 is an enlarged vertical, sectional view, showing a safety joint,

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12, showing the safety joint of Fig. 12 in its unlocked position,

Fig. 14 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line I l-44 of Fi 12,

Fig. 15 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line 15- 15 of Fig.12,

Fig. 1 6 is a horizontal cross'-sectio nal view taken on line I 6-15 of Fig. 12, J

Figfl'iis anlelevationshowing a series of oilculation' breaker-sand safety joints in 'a string of Pipe.

In the drawings, Figs. 1-16 show various means and combinations whereby a stuck pipe may be removed from the bore of a well. There has been shown selectively operated safety joints in Figs. 12 to 16 which may be operated from the surface'of the well. These safety joints are placed at intervals in the string of ,drill pipe and the lock on each safety joint may be selectively unlocked. For example, the lowermost look could be operated from the surface to unlock, and if it would not rotate so as to disconnect the stuck pipe, then the next higher selective safety joint could be unlocked so as to operate the ,next safety stuck string .of drill .pipeortubing. These circulation breakers may also often be advantageously located immediately below a safety joint, the purpose being thatso located, the safety joint just immediately above the breaker can thenbe released when it i found that the reestablishment of circulation cannot release the stuck string down to some lower joint or to the bottom ,of .the stuck string. It will be understood that it is always very desirable to maintain the inside diameter of any inserted de.vic e in any string of pipe, or oftubin g, at a uniform diameter not smaller than the smallest inside diameter of such pipe or tubing; or at the very least not to vary such diameters to such an extent as to interfere with the ordinary withdrawal of .core barrelsand other devices ,thatn ay be run in drill stems or with the pump parts that may be desired to op ra and r n ou h tu in I i to. be understood that the present safety joints and circulation breakers will not interfere with such operations .of running other devices inside the strings of pipe, or of tubing, that may become stuck. At times when there ,are circulation breakers in the string of pipe pr tubing, and even when circulation has been reestablished, it will be found that the stuck string cannot be released because the circulation may have channeled around through a crevice or up one side.

' Safety joint In Figs. 12 to 16, there is shown an example of one form of safety joint. The numeral 33 designates a housing or an elongated hollow sleeve, which is internally screw-threaded at its upper end 34 to receive the pin 405 of Figs. l and 2 or a pipe or, as illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, a tool joint pin 34 on a pipe section. The lower end of housing 33 is internally screwrthreaded with a square or some type thread 3510f coarse pitch and steep lead. Alsothe housing 33, below the lower coarse threads 35, is provided with a cylindrical cam-shaped ratchet 33' having a tooth or stop 33" on its lower :annular face, as is-indi cated in Figs. 127and '13. The object of this is to prevent further forward rotation of the safety thread 35 after the abutting tooth or stop face 65' of the complementary cam or ratchet 65 of the hollow pin 63"has contacted the .coacting-stop face 33" of the ratchet on the housing 33. In Fig. 12 it will be noted that the ratchet teeth 33" and B engage and that the coarse threads 35 aremade up, whereas in Fig. 13 it will be observed that these threads are partially unscrewed 4 and that the ratchet teeth are not engaged with the part 85. This part 65 may be integral with the pin 63, but for convenience in manufacture and assembly the part may take the form of a separate ring which is Welded to the pin 63 by welding in the circular space 56. The housing 33 is provided with an ,axial bore 36, and the central portion of said bore is slightly reduced so as to provide a shoulder 31 therein. Attached to the lower end of the housing 33 is a pin 63 which has its upper end externally screwthreaded so as to correspond to and coact with the screw threads-35. Its lower end 39 is externally screw-threaded so as to receive a tool joint (not shown). The pin 63 is provided with an axial bore 45, and the upper end of said pin isscrew-threadedat 4! so as to receive the clutch nipple 42. The outer surface of said clutch nipple is provided with a plurality of wedge cams 43-U and 43-L, and in the space between the rows of wedge-cams 43-U and43-L is a ballracewayAll-L (Figs. 12 and 13) Another ball raceway .4, 4..U is located above cams 43-U. Surrounding the clutch nipple 42, and extending upwardly, is a slidable sleeve 45 whichsnugly engages the inner surface of the member 33, and is movable within the bore 35. The lower end of said sleeve 45' i s p d d with a plu a ity o on nms an on,- fined th a d openi s are lackin ba l The hollow sleeve 45 iscircumferentially grooved so as to receive a packing ring 49-11. The sleeve 45 novably engages the upper surface of the enlarged part of the bore .36, and is provided with a shoulder 58 which corresponds to and coasts with the shoulder 37 of the housing '33. 'The upper end 6! ,of the sleeve 45 provides a pistcn head and is externally grooved to receive asecond packing ring ,4Q-L which is insertable therein. A slidable ring 54 overlies the top of the clutch nipple (i2 andengages same when 45 moves downwardly.

The lower beveled edge of the ring 54 acts as a ball retainer for the balls 32 when the safety threads 35 are released. The coil spring 58 .is confined above by the reduced .bore of piston 'head 6| and below by ring 54.

One or more, preferably several, of these safety joints generally indicated by A Fig. 17 may be inserted, as indicated above, at short intervals in that part of a string of pipe. or of tubes that later in use may become lodgedor stuck in a -bore.- A suitable number of these joints are assembled with variously tensioned springs in each of the joints, and the joints may be made .up into a string of pipe in such a manner that the joint at the bottom will have the weakest spring58, and the next joint above in the string will be the next weakest and will increase the tension so that the top joint will have the strongest spring 58.

When the first joint is made up in a string and before the fluid pressure within is higher-than without this joint, and when such pressure has not become so great as to compress the springs 58 by forcing the sleeve 45 downwardly, then the springs 58 will urge the sleeve 45 .upwardly until the top .of the piston head 6| will bear upwardly against the lower end of the pin 34'. In this elevated position of the sleeve 45, the locking balls 62 will also be elevated, and will be engaged in the upper-row of clutch cams 43-U so as to prevent reverse rotation to unscrwthe safety threads35. When the surface pump is running so as to remove the cuttings from the bit,

as in drilling, then the difference in pressure between the inside and -tit'l tsid'e -=of1the joint will be so great 1 as "to compress" the springs: r'58 'v'in all the safety jointsfa'nd then thesleevewill be' forced down until theishoulder of said sleeve-is resting on the 'shoulder 3r'o'f-5the "hous ing 33; said'locking balls li'Twil-lalso belowere'd and will be" in engagement with'the' 'lower' row of clutch cams 43-L andin'this position;;tl'ie joint will be lockedso 'as to prevent revel-scrota tionto unscrew the "safety threads 35 while drill mg r h "Whenit is desired to"uiilockenyfparticular safety joint, preparatory" to unscrewing' the safety threads 35, and to release' 'this"particularsafety joint, an intermediate fluid pressure*isfattalned by the pumps 'until the inside" 'pre'ssu're'ds sumciently greater than the outsidepressur atthis particular joint to" partially move-the Psleeve 45 downwardly until the lockingba'lls move 1 into the lower'ba'll raceway MI -L; With the parts in this position; the safety 'joint 'can be' slightly 'ra tated in a reverse or counterclockwise direction as'seen from the top ofthe "well,"'andwill be partially unlocked to such an extent that now the upper part of the joint "can be turned-"ina reverse direction until the locking balls 62, along with the "sleeve '45-'and the: upper part of -"the joint, have been relatively elevated up far enough so that the locking balls will be forcedlip into the upper row of clutch "cams" and wily-prevent, for the time, any further reverse rotation; The pump' is stopped or the fluid pressure within the joint is released; which" will then permit "the spring 58 to expand upwardly to li ftthe"sleeve 45 and move the locking balls" '52 to "above the upper row of clutch cams""43-'U; at which'time the upper part of the joint may be further m tated in a counterclockwise direction *u'ntiP the threads 35 are completely unscrewed, and-at suc'h time the joint will have beenreleased 's'othat everything above pin" 63 'canthen-be' withdravfn from the well. "However,* if for'anw reason it was found desirable to reconnecV-thefioint, it could be done without coining"out of 'the well to reset any of the parts thereof-.*=Also; it will be seen that all three" of the 'packings" and all parts of the" joint are removd from'the lower portion of the jointfexcept the lower portion 63 of the joint which is left in the well: *It'will be observed that because it is necessary net only to have an intermediate fluid pressure to operate the locking means, b'ut' that' it'*is necessary -to operate with a number of variations -in pressure asdescribed above, it might "be said that the lock is a combination lockand substantially all possibilities of the joint becomingunlocked and released during normal operations "in""a *b'ore holelare eliminated.) A'lso, itwill :be seenthat such a safety joint is'very strong; and that itis no longer necessary; to lose any*of;'the'-'-'parts of the lock or packings at :any'. time. 1?

' Circulation breakers s? As pointed out herinbeforefsome type" of en} culating breaker or bypass: waive-device would be desirable to be placed in a string dri1l stefn', or ofother tubing, when the same fis' V well bore, and, in the event such pipe H stuck Within'the weirbor e, it mayb s bl to free said pipe by operating saidf" circulating breakers. In Figs. 1 toll, inclusive, there has been shown one type of a circulation breaker. The circulation breaker is prererably ofthe me inside and outsidediameters as the msiqeefia outside of the tubing and 'therefore does-"iiot produce a reductioni or'an enlargement the"'striffgi Theupperend 40l"of the housing 400"'isinternally screw-threaded, and receives an adapter402 whichhas an axial bore 403 therein. This'a'dapter 402, at its upper end, is connected to" a section of-the drill stem or tubing. Thel'ower inner 'portion of said adapter is enlarged and forms a shoulder 404. The lower endbf .the housing"400 isreduced 'and externally. screw threaded,-"fo'rming a pin 405 onto whicha safety joint, for'example the one shown in Fig. 12, a tool jointbox '(not'sh'own) or the collar of any ordi-' nary tubing (not shown) may be connected. The housing 400 'isprovided withan axial bore 405 which'is reduced at its lower end and forms an annular shoulder'lol. This hou'sing is provided with fluid passageways (to be later described), and the'valves (to be later described) for said passageways are controllable to be opened and closed' by the operator" from without the well bore. Preferably, the operator will'desire'to'open and close one of said valves before opening'ari other'of saidvalves in a circulation breaker at somelower'level in the well bore so as to estab'; lish circulation by short stages, but it is'not intended to'liinit the method of operation at all times to'short'stage's or to opening and closing the passageway in one circulation breaker before opening the passageway in another circulatio'n'br'eaker. 1

Slidable within the bore" 406, of the housing 400, is valve control 408 used to position avalve, which control includes an elongate sectional sleeve 408. The upper section 409, of the sleeve 408, is screw-threadedly attached to the upper end of the lower section 4 0; The extreme upper end of the section 409 slides within the enlarged portion'of 'the adapter 402, so as" to abut the annular shoulder 404. A plurality of slots'4ll are' 'provided in'the upper endof'said section, and'normally have their outer surfaces closed by the adapter 402" as shown inFigfl 1: It pointed. out that said slots are cutjat an upwardly extending angle so that fluid passing through said slots must trave1 in 'an"upwardfdirection. Below the slots 4H, the outer'circumference of thesleeve'is provided with'a spiral groove 4l2, said spiral portion of thesleeve4 09 being enlarged and sliding within the bore 406 of the housing'i400. The section]!!! is connected at? point opposite 'the spiral groove, orin close proximity thereto. 4 V n The housing is providedwith a plurality of'openings or fluid passageways 4 I 3 which 'estab lish communication between the interior and exterior of.-said housing. Slidab le within the bor'c 405, or the housing 400, and confined between said h'ousinga'ndthe section "410 is a sleeve 4 which ha's its upper-end enlarged and slidably engaging both the' section 410 and the housing 400. Ihe central portion of the sleeve M4 is provided with slots M5, and'said sleeve at'this portion'is reduced. Projecting within the sleeve 414, and screw threadedly attached to thehousing 400, is a stop pin 4H), which will obviously limit the vertical movement of the sleeve 41 4 becausethe inner end of said pin projects within the slot 415; Below the slots M5, the sleeve 414 isprovidedwitha plurality of a pair of annular rooves J ana M1". The section 4H0, of the sleeve 408, has its outer circumference reduced, forming an annular seat or shoulder 418. :1: retaining ring 9 'normally 'jabuts the shoulder'flii andthe lower end of'the'sleeve 414;. A similafretaining ring 420 normally restsup'on the shoulder 401;:01 the housing 400, and .on the annular seat above the lower end 421. of the section '410. Confined between said retaining rings is a coiled, compressed spring 422. The upper. enlarged portion 423 is provided with a plurality of packing rings 424 which normally lie on either side of the openings 413, thereby packing oif so that fluid cannot enter or escape through the openings 413. Confined between the lower end of the section 409 and the enlarged portion 423 of sleeve 414 is a coil spring 425. Iii the inner surface of the housing 400,. and opposite the coil spring 425, there is provided a plurality of enlarged screw threads 425. The section 410 of the sleeve 400, near its lower portion, is provided with a plurality of openings 421, and 'movably confined withinsaid openings are b'alls 428 which ordinarly abut the partition between the two annular grooves 411 and 411.

It is pointed out that the circulation breaker assembly is in the position shown in Fig. 1 when itxis inserted in the well, and remains in this position during normal operations of the well. However, any means; such as the member C, a core barrel, or the like, (not shown) maybe run into the well and will strike the balls 428. The core barrel, or the like, by its own weight or by normal pump pressure, will force the sleeve 408 downwardly, and the balls 428 will drop into the lower circular groove 411, thereby allowing the core barrel or other tool to pass through said circulation ibreaker. When said core barreL. or other tool, is withdrawn, it strikes the balls 4'28, moving the sleeve 408 upwardly and allowing the 'ballsto Snap into the upper groove 411', and the tool .may then pass up through said circulation breaker.

In the event cuttings or other materials lodge around the pipe, and the pipe becomes stuck in the well; it is desirable to break normal circulation and to reestablish a circulation to wash around theouter circumference of the stuck pipe was to wash the earth or binding material away from such stuck pipe;

In accordance with my invention, there may be placed at any suitable intervals within the string of pipe or. tubing; circulation breakers generally indicated by B Fig. ,l7. For example, the depth of the well may be 5,000 feet, and one of such circulating breakers could be placed at five-hundredefoot intervals so that there would be five to eight of such circulation breakers in the string of pipe; If while drilling the pipe becomes stuckthe operator usually in such instances does not desire to disconnect the pipe if he can re- A establish circulation around the same, thereby freeing it. 'An example of the method to operate the circulation breaker is to openand close the valves 409, 42-3 in one ormore of these breakers so as to reestablish circulation. There has been shown in the drawings a member C which is commonly referred to as afgo-devil. As the godevil strikes the first circulation breaker and comes to rest upon the balls 428 its weight is just enough to move the parts to the positions shown in Fig. 2, thereby moving the sleeve 408 downwardly until the spiral groove 412 is opposite the screw-threaded portion 426 of the housing 400. The purpose of the spiral groove 412 and threads 426 is to set up a turbulence in the fluid stream that may be forced to flow out through the ,openings 41,3, andtherebycrea'tee XtradOW hrust .qn-the ee e D.8...by,.imp n ns u on e r ves 41 his. down t ustw ll be slightunless the volume and rate of flow of the fluid stream is high "as it will be when the cuttings are'circulated out of the well above the open passageways 413". Thescrew-threaded portion 426 andthe groove 412 will then create a greaterturbulent effect and will act to force said sleeve. 408 downwardly. Further, in the event particlesof mud, or the like, enter the slots 411, they will be'carried down and around the spiral grooves and threads. The spring 425 will move the enlarged portion 423 of the sleeve 414 downwardly as the pressure upon the spiral grooves 412 is increased. All this will move the ring 419 downwardly and compress the spring 422. The circulation breaker will now be in the position shown in Fig.2.

The ports 413 have now been opened and thereby fluidmay pass from the bore of the tubing through the slots 411 and through the annular groove 412 and threads 426, out through the ports 413 and up the outside of the pipe or tubing. Thus the operator has established circulation around this upper portion of the stuck pipe, and he may now desire to move the next circulation breaker to establish communication at that point. In order to do this, it is necessary to increase the pumppressure and volume which will act upon the sleeve 408, thereby moving said sleeve downwardly and allowing the balls 420 to ,move into the lower groove 411, as shown in Fig. 6. The lower shoulder of enlarged portion 423 is resting upon the pin 416 (Fig. 2) and therefore the sleeve 414 cannot be moved down further. Thus the sleeve 408 will move downwardly, allowing the go-devil C to pass through the upper circulation breaker. The go-devil C is moved by gravity down through thefiuid to the next circulation breaker, and the steps are repeated until circulation has been established down to the second breaker, and this is repeated until the entire string of tubing has been freed. After the go-devil or a tool has passed througha circulation breaker, the springs 422 and 425 expand and return the parts to the position shown in Fig. 1 and the valve closes the passageways 413. In some instances, it may be found desirable to operate the valve in the breaker by other means, and any suitable means may be used. At times it is desirable to retract said go-devil or to run into the well or to remove from the well a core barrel or other device, As the go-devil, or other device,1is pulled upwardly, thesame will strike the balls 428, and, by an upward movement, the pin M6 will hold the sleeve 414 and allow the sleeve 408 to move upwardly, thereby allowing the balls 428 to drop into the uppergroove 411 and allow said g'o-devil to be retracted (Fig. 7). Thus there is provided a circulation breaker or by-pass valve device which does not restrict the bore of the tubing and which can be easily and efiiciently operated.

Another form of the circulation device is shown in Figs. 9, lO and 11, The numeral 450 designates a sectional tubular housing. The upper portion 451 of said housing has its upper end internally screw-threaded and its lower portion reduced and externally screw-threaded. The lower portion 452 of said housing is screwthreadedly attached to the lower end of the pertion 451, and the lower end of the portion 452 is reduced and externally screw-threaded so that a tubular pipe 453 may be attached thereto. 'It is pointed out that a tubular. pipe 454 may be attachedto theupper end, or theportion 45I of the housing 450. Thus the. housing may be connected into a string of tubing.

The portion 45l of the housing .is provided wanes axial bore 455. A plurality"'ofratchet teeth 456 are provided j onth'e. walls of said bore. annuiarseamsi is provided on the lower portion of the lower'e'nd of the housing 45! surrounding the bore 455." The ho'using'452 is provided with an axial bore 458 therein, the bore is enlarged at 459 and furtherenlarged at 460 at the upper end ofv the portion 452.1A valve head 46lhas a valveface 4'62o1i its upper periphery and seats upontl'ievalve'seat' 451 located on the lower end of the housing 45L A sleeve 463 depends from said valve head and has its lower end extending'into thdenlaigedbore 459. The head and sleeve have an axial bore 464 extending therethrough. The head 46! is slidable within the enlarged bore 460, while the sleeve 463 is slidable within the bore 459. A coiled spring 465 surrounds the sleeve 462 and has its upper end underlying the head 46!, and its lower end resting upon the bottom of the enlarged bore 460. Thus said spring supports the head.

A plurality of orifices 466 are provided in the housing 452 at its reduced portion so that they establish communication between the enlarged bore 460 and the exterior of the housing 452. A disk 46! is disposed above the head 46l and has an axial opening 468 therethrough. Said disk is provided with a plurality of upwardly-extending, flexible fingers 469 which have their uppermost ends 410 bent outwardly so that they may engage within the ratchet teeth 456. Thus the spring 465 will support the head and will close the valve seats 45'! and 462 so that any fluid passed through the device must flow through the sleeve 463.

In operation, the bore of the device is unrestricted so that any tool may be passed therethrough. In the event the string of tubing becomes lodged or stuck in the well bore and it is desirable to attempt to establish circulation around said pipe, it is only necessary to drop or run into the well bore a suitable tool to close the bore of the sleeve 463. In the drawings, a ball 4' has been shown, however, a go-devil or the like may be dropped or run in or a wire line so as to close said bore. With the bore closed, pump pressure is applied to said disk and plugging means and the disk and head are moved downwardly. It is pointed out that when the disk is moved downwardly, the fingers will also move downwardly, and the upper bent ends of said fingers engaging the teeth 456 will hold the disk in that position (Fig. so that the spring cannot move the head upwardly. The washing fluid is free to pass between the fingers and into the bore 460 and out through the orifice 466, thus washing the exterior of the pipe. It is pointed out that said fingers and teeth may be left out of said structure and in this instance the pressure of the fluid may be depended upon to hold said head in its downward or ajar position.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 590,682, filed Aprli 27, 1945, now Patent No. 2,586,015 granted February 19, 1952 for Pipe Releasing Means, which application is in turn a division of application Serial No. 334,947, filed May 13, 1940, now Patent No. 2,394,759, granted February 12, 1946 for Methods of and Means for Recovering Elements from Well Bores, which latter application is in turn a continuation-in-part of prior application Serial No. 301,762, filed August 24, 1928, now Patent No.

.ing evice for Wells;

What'is claimedis: r well operations involv- 1. In a process of" deep ,ing the removal of pipe andl'the like in a well bore and steps. of inserting at suitablejintervals, circulation breaker jointsin' a pipe string, loweringand operating said pipe string in the'well untilfsridbip'becomesllodged or stuck so fast infth'e well'bore that it cannot'be readily withdrawn in it'sentirety, then selectively opening a 'eassa ewa m thewall of one of said circulation, breakr'f'jointsfthen circulating fluid out through ,said operi passageway to remove any detritus from faboutalirst portion of said'string of pipe above said passageway that might tend to stick and lodge said pipe string above said passageway, then closing the said open passageway so as to prevent the circulation of fluid therethrough, then selectively opening a passageway in the wall of another one of said circulation breaker joints placed at a lower point in said string of pipe, then circulating fluid out through said lower open passageway to remove the detritus from around another position of said string of pipe that was holding such other portion of said string of pipe against withdrawal, and then disconnecting the upper portion of said string of pipe comprising said first and other portions from the remainder of said string at a point adjacent said lower passageway, whereby said upper portion of said string of pipe may be removed from the well bore.

2. The method of freeing and removing an upper portion of a pipe lodged in a well bore because of sand or other detritus being located about said pipe in such a manner as to stick said pipe, that includes the steps of opening a valved passageway in said pipe, circulating fluid therethrough to remove any detritus that may be lodged about the upper portion of said pipe above said open passageway thereby freeing the upper portion of said pipe, and then disconnecting the upper portion of said pipe from the remainder thereof at a point adjacent said passageway, whereby said upper portion of said pipe may be removed from the well bore.

3. In a process of deep well operations involving the removal of pipe and the like in a well bore, the steps of inserting at suitable intervals, circulation breaker joints in a pipe string, inserting a safety joint in said pipe string adjacent each said circulation breaker joint, lowering and operating said pipe string in the well until said pipe becomes lodged or stuck so fast in the well bore that it cannot be readily withdrawn in its entirety, then selectivel opening a passageway in the wall of one of said circulation breaker joints, then circulating fluid out through said open passageway to remove any detritus from about a first portion of said string of pipe above said. passageway that might tend to stick and lodge said pipe string above said passageway, then closing the said open passageway so as to prevent the circultion of fluid therethrough, then selectively opening a passageway in the wall of another one of said circulation breaker joints placed at a lower point in said string of pipe, then circulating fluid out through said lower open passageway to remove the detritus from around another portion of said string of pipe that was holding such other portion of said string of pipe against withdrawal, and then disconnecting the upper portion of said string of pipe comprising said first and other portions from the reportion of said string of pipe maybe" removed from the well'bore. V p

4. In a process of deepwell'operations'involving the removal of pipe and the like in a well bore, the steps of inserting'acirculation breaker joint and a safety joint adjacent thereto in a pipe string, lowering and operating, said pipe string in the welLuntil saidpipe becomes lodged or stuck. so fast in the well bore that it cannot be readily withdrawn in its entirety, thenopening a passageway in the wall ofsaid circulation breaker j0int, then circulating fluid out through said open passageway to remove any detritus 1 2 from bo t n e p rt rlq sfiidf s amina pi -e abovesaid" pass'ageway tnat might'ften' to stiek and lod e said j pipe st eiab $i fpas= sageway, and thenidiseonnctingsaid u per: pottion of said string" of pipe. front the remainder of said string at' sa-id safety joint', whereby} upper portion ofsaidfstring'ofpipe may be"removed from theiweilvbore; 4 a i v R' 'HA'EDWAR S:. Exec utr ix v of the estate ofCliarles' R. Ed'zdafds,

deceased;

No refincescitd: 

